THE COLD WAR

The Korean Conflict

BACKGROUND• China has gone

Communist

• Soviets have developed

the Atom Bomb

• Korea lies in a

strategically important

area

1945 Division• 38th Parallel

• North Korea is backed by Soviets and led by Kim Il-Sung

• South Korea is backed by the US and led by Syngman Rhee

• Both pursue total control and do not hold elections

1949 Withdrawal• Both the US and USSR withdraw their

personnel in the Koreas but continue to support and encourage their protégés

• Soviets & Chinese split

• Soviets encourage a united Korea to 1) bug China, and 2) threaten Japan

• US underestimates Soviet posturing

1950 Invasion• With reluctant approval from Stalin, the

North Korean army crosses the 38th parallel

and rapidly gains territory to the South.

• Truman interprets the civil war as Soviet

inspired aggression

1950 Invasion• Truman brings

invasion before the Security Council

• Soviets not present to veto

• Collective Security Action launched against North Korea to regain the 38th parallel.

War or Police Action?• Truman implemented his policy without

Congressional approval so the Korean

conflict was never officially a “war”

• Truman justified his decision by saying the

atomic age requires quick decisions

• This greatly enlarges the power of the

President

Inchon -- September 1950• MacArthur’s amphibious landing

successfully turns the tide of the war as the UN forces advance to the Chinese border in less than two months.

• Truman begins to re-evaluate his goals. Now he considers pushing for a unified Korea, under US influence.

• China threatens forceful response

China Invades• Truman ignores the Chinese threat based on

the advice of MacArthur & Acheson

• When the UN forces cross the 38th parallel and push north, China attacks

• Marines fight back at the frozen Chosin Reservoir

Back to the 38th• Conservatives want to

use Korea to kill communism in China

• General MacArthur publicly supports total war against the Chinese to win not only Korea, but the rest of Asia too.

Back to the 38th• Truman supports

limited objectives and returns to his initial goal of regaining the 38th division.

• Truman is worried that the US cannot win in Asia, or that he might start WWIII

Truman vs. MacArthur• When MacArthur publicly criticizes

Truman’s policy toward Korea, he is fired for insubordination

• The public initially rallies behind MacArthur but is happy to see the war end

• By the time Truman leaves office, the US has lost 33,000 men in combat

Eisenhower - 1952-1953• Pledges to bring the

Cold War under control

• Worried by excessive defense spending

• Wants to cut back on ground forces

• Favors emphasizing air power & nuclear striking power

Deterrence Theory• Crafted by Ike’s

Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles

• Policy was known as “massive retaliation” meaning the US would not fight conventional wars to defeat communism, only nuclear wars

• Hopefully, this threat would deter the Soviets from further aggression.

Ending the War• Eisenhower issues

China an ultimatum

• Truce signed on June 27, 1953

• 54K Americans lost

• War ends at the 38th parallel.

SUMMARY• The Cold War heated

up when the US attempted to contain what it perceived as Soviet aggression in Asia.

• Eisenhower introduces massive retaliation as the latest cold war tactic.